Necklace stabilizer

ABSTRACT

An improved method and device for stabilizing a necklace while on a wearer, which prevents the necklace from turning about the wearer&#39;s neck during wear and reorienting itself, in which a weight is attached to the necklace at the nape of the wearer&#39;s neck, and extends downwardly from the necklace. In a clasp-type necklace, the invention prevents the clasp at the rear of the wearer&#39;s neck from shifting around to the wearer&#39;s front during wear. The device itself is a weight which is mounted on an extender and positioned at the rear of the wearer&#39;s neck, which may be or include one or more decorative or jewelry type items.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an article of manufacture, and a method for maintaining a necklace in the orientation desired by a wearer while on the wearer, which prevents the clasp at the rear of the wearer's neck from shifting around to the wearer's front during wear.

The invention is a weight attachable to the clasp or other portion of a necklace, which extends downwardly from the necklace, generally along the wearer's backbone. Preferably the weight is decorative, such as a pendant, charm, jewel or other similar item.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When a necklace is worn, which includes a clasp fastener, the necklace frequently moves about the neck of the wearer until the clasp is visible from the front of the wearer, This gives the person viewing the wearer the perception that the wearer is not aware of the picture being presented to others. Frequently a bystander will suggest that the necklace should be re-situated, causing embarrassment and consternation to the wearer. A necklace without a fixed pendant has a tendency to move or rotate about the neck of the wearer during any activity. Thus, the wearer must frequently check and adjust the position of the necklace clasp, returning it to the rear of the wearer's neck.

Therefore, there is a need for a means for stabilizing a necklace while being worn, which prevents the clasp at the rear of the wearer's neck from shifting around to the wearer's front during wear.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Applicant is aware of the following U.S. patents concerning necklaces:

U.S. Pat. No. Issue Date Inventor Title US Pat.3,208,238 Sep. 28, 1965 Spitzer Combined Clasp and Ornament for Necklaces US Pat 6,138,356 Oct. 31, 2000 Hertelendy Method of Stabilizing a Necklace US Pat 7,096,690 Aug. 29, 2006 James Bracelet and Pendant

Spitzer U.S. Pat. No. 1,234,047 teaches a complex clasp apparatus for a necklace.

Hertelendy teaches the insertion of an oval shaped metal loop between the clasps on the ends of the necklace.

James teaches a bracelet and pendant device with removable ornament.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a weight device which is attached to the clasp or other portion of a necklace by a chain or other extender item, and which is adapted to lay down the wearer's back.

During normal wear, the weight maintains the center of the back of the necklace centered on the wearer's neck, generally along the wearer's spine, and inhibits the tendency of the necklace to rotate about the wearer's neck.

The present invention is particularly useful for chain necklaces, bead necklaces, and the like. It can be readily used with necklaces without a clasp, but is particularly useful on necklaces that utilize a clasp or any other type of fastener. The type of fastener is not material to the invention.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved method of stabilizing a necklace while on a wearer, which prevents the necklace from rotating about the wearer's neck and reorienting itself during wear.

A further object of this invention is to provide a method of stabilizing a clasp necklace while on a wearer, which prevents the clasp at the rear of the wearer's neck from shifting around to the wearer's front during wear.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for stabilizing a necklace while on a wearer, which prevents the portion of the necklace intended to remain at the rear of the wearer's neck from shifting around to the wearer's front during wear.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for stabilizing a clasp necklace while on a wearer, which prevents the clasp at the rear of the wearer's neck from shifting around to the wearer's front during wear.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for attachment to a necklace that causes the portion of the necklace intended to remain at the wearer's front while worn from shifting and reorienting itself during wear.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means for changing the apparent length of a necklace to one viewing the wearer.

It is another object of the invention to provide a fashion accessory for the wearer's back.

Another object of the invention is provide a stabilizer that is useful on a chain or bead style necklace which has no clasp.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects will become more readily apparent by referring to the following detailed description and the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 a is a rear perspective view of a necklace being worn by a wearer showing a clasp style fastener.

FIG. 1 b is a rear perspective view of a necklace showing a different type of fastener.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a necklace being worn by a wearer showing the invented necklace stabilizer.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a necklace being worn by a wearer showing an alternative embodiment of the invented stabilizing apparatus attached to a necklace.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the stabilizing apparatus for attachment to a clasp necklace.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the stabilizing apparatus for attachment to a clasp necklace.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the stabilizing apparatus for attachment to a clasp necklace.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the stabilizing apparatus for attachment to a clasp necklace.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the stabilizing apparatus for attachment to a clasp necklace.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the stabilizing apparatus for attachment to a clasp necklace.

FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the stabilizing apparatus for attachment to a necklace.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, a necklace 10 is shown with a connecting means 12, such as a clasp 14, hook and eye 16 or other fastener such as a split ring or mating hooks. The necklace can be a chain or bead-type necklace which is continuous and has no clasp. The invention will be described initially with respect to a clasp. The invented stabilizer 20 comprises a weight 22 that depends downwardly from the clasp, preferably on a chain 24 or other extender means. The weight 22 then lays against the back of the wearer 30, along or nearly along the wearer' spinal column. This maintains the necklace in the desired orientation with regard to the wearer by inhibiting any tendency of the chain to turn about the wearer's neck during activity.

The invention also comprises a method of stabilizing a clasp necklace by providing a weight depending downwardly from the necklace at the nape of the wearer's neck, and positioning the weight along the wearer's spine, thereby maintaining the orientation of the necklace in the desired position. The weight is advantageously connected to a clasp of a necklace provided with such clasp, with the same result.

The weight 22 can weigh any desired weight, and is preferably ornamental or decorative. Suitable weights are shown in the various Figures. They include extenders, charms and pendants (FIG. 6), cameos (FIG. 10), jewels (FIGS. 2 and 5), beads, discs (FIG. 7), metallic pieces (FIG. 8), precious stones or semi-precious stones (FIG. 4), lockets (FIG. 9), and other jewelry items (FIG. 3), as shown in FIGS. 2 through 10. For fashion, the weight can be a single item, or multiple items, as desired by the wearer.

Alternatively, the weight can be mounted on a yoke 32 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 10. In this embodiment, the two ends 34 and 36 of the yoke are attached to the back of the necklace at a spaced interval, the weight depending downwardly and centrally between the attached ends of the yoke. The yoke can be V-shaped, or can have an additional chain depending from the intersection of the V to form a Y shaped yoke.

The length of the depending chain 24 or of the chains forming yoke 32 can be any desired length.

SUMMARY OF THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

From the foregoing, it is readily apparent that I have invented an improved method and apparatus for stabilizing a necklace while on a wearer, which prevents the rotation of the necklace about the wearer's neck and prevents a clasp at the rear of the wearer's neck from shifting around to the front of the wearer during wear.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and specific embodiments are merely illustrative of the best mode of the invention and the principles thereof, and that various modifications and additions may be made to the apparatus by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, which is therefore understood to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A method of maintaining a necklace in a desired orientation during wearing, comprising: installing a weighted object onto the necklace by connection at the location on the necklace that, when worn, the weighted object is initially located at the nape of the wearer's neck along the wearer's spinal column.
 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said object is installed to depend downwardly from the connection location.
 3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said necklace is provided with a clasp, and wherein said weighted object is connected to the clasp.
 4. A means for stabilizing a necklace while on a wearer, which prevents the necklace from shifting about the wearer's neck during wear, said means comprising: a necklace; and a weight attached to said necklace at the portion thereof near the center of the wearer's back, and adapted to extend downwardly therefrom.
 5. Means for stabilizing a necklace on a wearer according to claim 4, wherein said weight is decorative.
 6. Means for stabilizing a necklace on a wearer according to claim 4, wherein said weight is attached to said necklace by a chain.
 7. Means for stabilizing a necklace on a wearer according to claim 4, wherein said weight is selected from the group consisting of extenders, charms, pendants, cameos, jewels, beads, discs, metallic pieces, precious stones, semi-precious stones, lockets, and jewelry.
 8. A means for stabilizing a necklace while on a wearer, which prevents the clasp at the rear of the wearer's neck from shifting around to the wearer's front during wear, said means comprising: a necklace provided with a clasp; and a weight attached to said clasp and adapted to extend downwardly from said clasp.
 9. Means for stabilizing a necklace on a wearer according to claim 8, wherein said weight is decorative.
 10. Means for stabilizing a necklace on a wearer according to claim 8, wherein said weight is attached to said clasp by a chain.
 11. Means for stabilizing a necklace on a wearer according to claim 8, wherein said weight is selected from the group consisting of extenders, charms, pendants, cameos, jewels, beads, discs, metallic pieces, precious stones, semi-precious stones, lockets, and jewelry.
 12. A means for stabilizing a necklace while on a wearer, which prevents the clasp at the rear of the wearer's neck from shifting around to the wearer's front during wear, said means comprising: a necklace; and a yoke attached to said necklace at a spaced interval at such position that the center of said yoke will be near the center of the wearer's back, when worn; and a weight attached to said yoke and adapted to extend downwardly therefrom.
 13. Means for stabilizing a necklace on a wearer according to claim 12, wherein said weight is decorative.
 14. Means for stabilizing a necklace on a wearer according to claim 12, wherein said weight is attached to said yoke by a chain.
 15. Means for stabilizing a necklace on a wearer according to claim 12, wherein said weight is selected from the group consisting of extenders, charms, pendants, cameos, jewels, beads, discs, metallic pieces, precious stones, semi-precious stones, lockets, and jewelry. 